People
Journey Lyrics


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Who are the ones that slip and slide through life
Moving like the waves in a sink?
People, always need a minute or two to think

Who says they're not going to hell?
Climbing the stairway to you know where
People, oh, so happy until they scare
Who always has got to talk about somebody else
Born as a God, they think that's got to be
People, simply just another you and me





People, oh people, huh, hey

Overall Meaning

The above lyrics from Journey's song People highlights the common traits among people who are often found misaligned with the societal norms. The opening line "Who are the ones that slip and slide through life" reflects the people who are not committed to something specific, are directionless and can easily be influenced by others. The next line, "Moving like the waves in a sink?" provides a visual representation of how these people sway back and forth like the waves in a sink. The following line, "People, always need a minute or two to think" sheds light on their indecisiveness and their requirement of taking time to make any decision.


The second part of the lyrics, "Who says they're not going to hell? Climbing the stairway to you know where" portrays the hypocrisy of individuals who acknowledge the consequences of their actions yet choose to ignore them to pursue their interests. The next line, "People, oh, so happy until they scare" reveals the fragile nature of these individuals who can easily lose their mental balance, even though they seem happy and peaceful from the outside.


The last part of the lyrics "Who always has got to talk about somebody else, Born as a God, they think that's got to be, People, simply just another you and me" delves into the nature of these individuals who are always keen to discuss others' lives and activities. The line "Born as a God, they think that's got to be" is an indirect reference to people who consider themselves superior to others due to their social status, wealth, or power. The song culminates with the realization that such people are merely ones among many, and there is no reason to believe they are any different.


Line by Line Meaning

Who are the ones that slip and slide through life
Who are the ones that go through life without a clear plan or direction


Moving like the waves in a sink?
Tossing around in a chaotic and unpredictable way, much like waves in a sink


People, always need a minute or two to think
People often require time to reflect on their actions or decisions before acting upon them


Who says they're not going to hell?
Who claims they are free from wrongdoing or sins?


Climbing the stairway to you know where
Moving forward towards a destination that none of us know about, regardless of its final outcome


People, oh, so happy until they scare
People can easily appear happy or content with their lives, but upon closer inspection, they might have underlying fears or concerns


Who always has got to talk about somebody else
Who constantly needs to bring attention to others in order to divert attention from themselves or appear more interesting?


Born as a God, they think that's got to be
Some people may hold themselves in high regard, comparing themselves to deities


People, simply just another you and me
Ultimately, people are just like you and me, with their own thoughts, feelings, and experiences


People, oh people, huh, hey
'People', a universal term used to describe human beings, is reiterated to emphasize the focus on individuals throughout the song




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Aynsley T Dunbar, Gregg Rolie, Neal J Schon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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